By: Mohamed Jalloh
President Bio has revealed during the state opening of 6th parliament that he is preparing Sierra Leone to attain middle income status and he is activating the “feed Sa lone” agenda in the 2023 people`s manifesto within the next five years.
“With great honour, I present the New Direction: Consolidating the Gains and Accelerating Transformation Agenda. This ambitious vision builds upon the principles outlined in the 2023 People’s Manifesto of the SLPP. This agenda encapsulates the spirit of progress, seizing the newfound opportunities we have forged while confronting emerging challenges and propelling Sierra Leone towards middle-income status by 2035.As espoused in our SLPP People’s Manifesto, which we used to campaign to citizens with our message of hope, unity and prosperity, my new administrations national development agenda will emphasise five key initiatives that will shape the course of our nation”, he explained.
First and foremost, president Bio said the “Feed Salone” agenda will ignite agricultural productivity, safeguard food security, and foster inclusive economic growth, laying the foundation for sustained prosperity.
“Human Capital Development”, with a deliberate focus on gender equality, will nurture the skills required for the industries of the 21st Century, empowering our workforce for a transformative future. The “Youth Employment Scheme” will unleash a focused initiative to create abundant job opportunities, providing our young talents with a platform to flourish and contribute to our nation’s progress. The “Technology and Infrastructure Initiative” will serve as an engine for sustained economic growth, harnessing the power of innovation and robust infrastructure to propel Sierra Leone to middle-income status. Finally, “Revamping the Public Service Architecture” will usher in a new era of delivery efficiency and professionalism, enhancing the efficacy of our public sector institutions”, he revealed.
According to the president these strategic initiatives form the bedrock upon which we shall usher in profound change, serving as catalysts to revolutionise economic growth, alleviate hunger and poverty, elevate public service efficiency, generate abundant employment prospects, and foster resilience in adversity.
Looking ahead, he disclosed that the focus of his government over the next five years centres on translating these achievements into the development of a highly skilled labour force equipped to tackle the challenges of 21st-Century industries.
He stated that the efforts of his government will be directed towards bridging the gap in the missing middle of the labour force while nurturing talents for professional roles in both the private sector and the Civil Service.
Through the unwavering dedication to Human Capital Development, his government has paved the path towards a future where the workforce is empowered, skilled, and ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.
“Youth unemployment, persistently prevalent within our society, presents a formidable threat to sustaining economic growth, stability, and the overall prosperity of our nation. In Sierra Leone, the youth demographic, encompassing individuals between the ages of 15 and 35, constitutes over a third of our population. Unfortunately, a significant portion of these young individuals residing in urban areas, who are neither attending school, university nor engaged in formal training, face the distressing realities of unemployment and vulnerability to drug addiction. Even in rural areas, the lack of compelling incentives has resulted in limited youth participation in productive endeavours”, he explained.
Furthermore, he said that our university graduates, regrettably, often find themselves unemployed. Trapped in this unemployment cycle, urban and rural youth become susceptible to exploitation by opportunistic forces, leading to unproductivity and delinquency. To harness the boundless energy and potential of the youth and foster inclusive and enduring prosperity throughout Sierra Leone, my Government pledges to continue championing their cause.
Our commitment to this mission extends to nurturing patriotism, fostering national pride, and cultivating resilience among our young populace.
In pursuit of these objectives, he noted that his government will institute a Presidential initiative focused on youth employment and job creation within the next five years. These employment opportunities will span various sectors, encompassing skilled and unskilled positions and long-term and seasonal engagements.
“Public Service is the cornerstone for driving transformative change in Sierra Leone. Since assuming office in 2018, my Government has diligently developed a comprehensive Civil Service Training Policy, laying the groundwork for robust capacity building within the public sector and establishing the Civil Service Training College. Our comprehensive approach will propel our development by leveraging renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Moreover, numerous road and bridge construction projects are poised to be initiated, focusing on connecting vital production areas.Over the next five years, the convergence of infrastructure, technology, and innovation will be pivotal enablers for sustaining high economic growth. Our objectives encompass transitioning the majority of monetary transactions to cashless systems, bolstering financial inclusion, expanding energy production for productive applications, and constructing roads that seamlessly link production centres to markets”, he concluded.
